Method and apparatus for propagating public safety multicast and broadcast services among public safety personnel

ABSTRACT

Public safety user equipment (PS UE) that establishes a first wireless communication channel over a primary network to at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity and establishes one or more alternative wireless communication channels over one or more alternative networks ( 310 ). The public safety user equipment receives at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service message over the first wireless communication channel ( 320 ), Then, the PS UE extracts data contained in the multimedia multicast or broadcast service message and storing the data in a local cache ( 330 ). The PS UE receives a cache request from the one or more user equipment over one or more alternative wireless communication channels ( 340 ) and then the PS UE transmits the stored data to the one or more PS user equipment ( 350 ).

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The example and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relategenerally to wireless communication systems, methods, devices andspecially programmed computer devices and tangible storage media, and,more specifically, relate to propagating public safety multicast andbroadcast services among wireless communication devices distributed inone or more wireless communication systems.

BACKGROUND

Advanced mobile broadband services are now available to public safetypersonnel by way of private and public safety (PS) long term evolution(LTE) networks and LTE enabled user equipment (UE). For example, theThird Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) introduced multimediabroadcast/multicast services (MBMS) as part of LTE in Release 9 and hascontinued to support this functionality in subsequent releases, such asRelease 10 (LTE-Advanced). It is contemplated that future releases ofLTE also will support this functionality (LTE-Beyond). Moreover, MBMS ispositioned to be an important component of the nationwide public safetybroadband network being created in the United States called FirstNetNationwide Network. MBMS is a point-to-multipoint interface which iscapable of delivering multicast and broadcast services within a specificcell, or across multiple cells, by way of a single-frequency networkconfiguration. MBMS does not provide content services by itself, butinstead various applications can use MBMS' bearer capabilities to createuser services.

According to 3GPP TS 22.246, there are four types of MBMS user servicesavailable to enable public safety applications; streaming services, filedownload services, carousel services and television services. The firstMBMS user service, streaming services provides a continuous data flowproviding a stream of continuous media (e.g., audio and video) which thespecification defines as a basic MBMS user service. In addition,supplementary information of text and/or still images (static media) canbe delivered along with an audio/video stream. For example,supplementary information such as a uniform resource locator can beincluded in the text or embedded in a still image, thereby allowing theuser to optionally access the content over the Internet. Another exampleof supplementary information provided in streaming services is the useof static still images as banner images that advertise some product orservice. In either example, the static media needs to be synchronizedand displayed with the audio/video streams.

The second user service enabled by MBMS, file download services includesdelivering binary data (e.g., file data) over an MBMS bearer. Such auser service enables a MBMS-enabled user equipment to activate anappropriate application in response to receiving the delivered binarydata. File download services are required to be reliable, such that theuser equipment must receive all the sent data in the proper order toexperience this user service.

The third MBMS user service is carousel service which combines aspectsof both streaming and file download services as described above. Similarto the streaming service, this service includes time synchronization.However, the target media of this service is only static media (e.g.,text and/or still images). Time synchronization with other media also isrequired. For example, text objects are delivered and updated from timeto time. Still images also may be collated to display low frame-ratevideo. Like the file download service, this user service also providesreliability however, typically 100% reliability is not always necessary.One of the benefits of carousel services is that it is can be providedover a low bit-rate bearer.

A fourth MBMS user service is television service consisting ofsynchronized streaming audio and visual components. Ideally, given LTEbandwidth constraints, television service will support short-durationbroadcast streams, such as short television network headline newsbriefings.

It is envisioned that providing MBMS user service to private or publicsafety LTE networks such as FirstNet can enhance various public safetybroadcast alerts such as: an America's missing broadcasting emergencyresponse (AMBER) alert, a child abduction emergency (CAE) alert, a childis missing (ACIM) alert, and a Silver Alert (e.g., public notificationof missing seniors, typically with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, orother mental disabilities). Other public safety applications which canbe enhanced by MBMS user service include providing real-time or nearreal-time data pertaining to various law enforcement search andinvestigatory activities. For example, a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO)broadcast could be enhanced to provide up-to-the-minute information tolet all public safety personnel have the same operational view, whetherthey are on opposite sides of a building, or on the other side of town,in another county, or across state lines. In other words, providingpublic safety personnel with the same street-level data could result inthe more expeditious apprehension of criminals. It also could help avoidthe possible waste of law enforcement resources in the event that theindividual(s) subject to the BOLO are already in custody.

Although it is envisioned that private and public safety (PS) LTEcoverage will envelope most major metropolitan areas in world (as wellas most major cities in the United States by way of FirstNet), it maynot become ubiquitous. As such, not all LTE-enabled UE will maintaincontinuous private or PS LTE coverage (e.g., the user equipment may beoperating in an out of service area, or the user equipment may be turnedoff at the end of the public safety employee's shift). Moreover, somepublic safety personnel may not have broadband devices that supportMBMS. In other words, conventional broadband routing algorithms will notbe sufficient to provide public safety personnel that missed a MBMSservice broadcast with the relevant missed MBMS information. As such,up-to-the-minute information will not optionally be propagated to allpublic safety personnel by way of MBMS user services.

Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient method, apparatus andcomputer programs to that propagate public safety MBMS broadcast alertsand MBMS real-time, or near real-time, data pertaining to lawenforcement search and investigatory activities to all public safetypersonnel regardless of whether the user missed the initial broadcast orwhether the broadband public safety device is not MBMS capable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of several non-limiting example scenarios of apublic safety long term evolution (PS LTE) network in accordance withsome example embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of public safety user equipment inaccordance with some example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a public safety multimediabroadcast multicast services entity in accordance with some exampleembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a continuation of the block diagram of FIG. 3 depicting apublic safety multimedia broadcast multicast services entity inaccordance with some example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a logical flow diagram that illustrates and describes a methodof propagating a multimedia broadcast multicast services message amongpublic safety user equipment in accordance with example embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram that illustrates and describes a publicsafety multimedia broadcast multicast services entity in accordance withexample embodiments of the present invention.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe apparatus and methods described herein so as not to obscure thedisclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an illustration of several non-limiting example scenarios of apublic safety long term evolution (PS LTE) network 1 in accordance withsome example embodiments of the present invention. That is, as shown inFIG. 1 the PS LTE network 1 is adapted for propagating public safety(PS) multimedia broadcast/multicast services (MBMS) over one or moremultimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) areas to aplurality of public safety user equipment located with each PS LTE cell.In each of the scenarios described below (and shown in FIG. 1), the datacontained in PS MBMS is further propagated by way of various distributedcaches to public safety user equipment that were unable to receive thePS MBMS (e.g., the user equipment may be operating in an out of servicearea, or the PS user equipment may be turned off at the end of thepublic safety employee's shift or the user equipment is not MBMScapable). The distributed caches are located within public safety userequipment that received the original data contained in public safetyMBMS and extracted that data and stored that data in each PS UE′respective cache buffers. In one example embodiment, each PS userequipment can be designated as an intermediate cache, peer cache or endpoint cache. Each PS UE designated as an intermediate or peer cachetransmits the stored data (e.g., data contained in public safety MBMS)over one or more alternative networks to the PS UEs. In some embodimentsthe PS UEs are those that were unable to receive the PS MBMS directly.In other embodiments, the PS UEs may be configured to seek outconnections over the alternative networks to local caches to obtain thePS MBMS data, and then, if no such local caches are available, to try toobtain the PS MBMB data over the primary network.

Example embodiments allow an operator of a PS LTE network to configuredata transmissions in one of three broadcast modes: unicast, broadcastor multicast. Unicast transmissions are bidirectional point-to-pointtransmissions between the network and each PS UE in the network. Inunicast mode the core network provides a dedicated connection to each PSUE, and the same content is transmitted multiple times (e.g., separatelyto each individual user equipment). Also, in broadcast modetransmissions are downlink-only point-to-multipoint connection from thecore network to multiple user equipment. In broadcast mode transmissionscontent is transmitted once to all user equipment in a predeterminedarea. Some non-limiting examples of a predetermined area can be ageographical area, specific cells, sectors of a cell, or specific typesof evolved Node B (eNB) (e.g., macro, femto, or pico eNBs, remote radioheads or relays). Each PS UE is free to choose whether or not to receivethe MBMS. Transmissions configured for multicast mode are alsodownlink-only point-to-multipoint connection from the network, but aretransmitted to a managed group of user equipment. Also, in multicasttransmissions content is transmitted once to the whole group and onlyusers belonging to the managed user group can receive the MBMS. As canbe readily understood by those skilled in the art, the multicast orbroadcast content may be transmitted more than once in order to achievereliability of transmissions.

In FIG. 1, public safety LTE cell #0 (12) and LTE cell #1 (22) can beconfigured, for example, to belong to the same MBMS service area asknown in the art. As such, eNB #0 (12) and eNB #1 (22) are synchronizedto perform MBSFN transmissions. Accordingly, LTE cell #0 and LTE cell #1are adapted to provide an MBSFN synchronization area 90 where each cellcan participate in one or more of the 255 possible MBSFN areasdesignated by a public safety network operator. It should be noted thatFIG. 1 shows only two PS LTE cells and two eNBs for simplicity indescribing the present invention. Example embodiments may includemultiple PS LTE cells populated with multiple eNBs of varying types(e.g., macro, femto, or pico eNBs, remote radio heads or relays and thelike).

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a public safety MBMS management entity 50 thatis adapted to issue MBMS public safety alerts and transmit MBMSreal-time or near real-time data pertaining to law enforcement searchand investigatory activities to public safety personnel in the PS LTEnetwork. In one embodiment, the PS MBMS ME 50 is coupled to abroadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) 80 adapted to provide aninterface between an external content provider (such as a PS MBMSmanagement entity 50 and the EPC 60). The BM-SC 80 is further coupled toa MBMS gateway (GW) 64, which is adapted to control signaling andtraffic. In another embodiment, the PS MBMS management entity (ME) 50functionality resides in the BM-SC 80. In yet another example embodimentof the present invention, the PS MBMS management entity (ME) 50 islocated within the core network (CN) as a logical function of theevolved packet core (EPC) 60 in the non-access stratum. The MBMS GW 64,together with mobility management entities (MME) 66, is adapted todistribute session control signaling to eNB #0 (12) and eNB #1 (22). TheMME 66 is further coupled to a multi-cell coordination entity (MCE) 68which is further coupled to each eNB #0 (12) and eNB #1 (22) by way of acontrol plane interface.

In an alternative embodiment, the PS MBMS ME 50 is remotely located and,as such, is external to the core network and EPS. For example, the PSMBMS management entity 50 could be accessible over the Internet by wayof the internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) (not shown).The PS MBMS management entity 50 includes MBMS data and is adapted fordistributing that MBMS data among a hierarchy of remote caches in the PSLTE network as described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 also shows several public safety user equipment (PS UE) dispersedover the PS LTE network 1. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, some of the PSUEs are not within the coverage area of public safety LTE cell #0 (12)and LTE cell #1 (22) but instead are accessible over alternativebroadband capable networks. For example, PS UE #0 (14) is located withinthe coverage area of PS LTE cell #0 (12) and, as such, can receive andstore in its local cache buffer 14 c data extracted from one or moreMBMS messages from the PS MBMS ME 50 by way of eNB #0 (12). Similarly,PS UE #1 (24) is located within the coverage area of PS LTE cell #1 (22)and, as such, can receive and store in its local cache buffer 24 c dataextracted from one or more MBMS messages from the PS MBMS ME 50 by wayof eNB #1 (22). That is possible because both PS UE #0 (14) and PS UE #1(24) are participants in a MBSFN areas 90. However, if either PS UE #0(14) or PS UE #1 (24) power down during a MBMS transmission (e.g., atthe end of public safety personnel shift) they might not receive theMBMS data if they are powered back on in an area outside of the PS LTEnetwork. PS UE #0 (14) and PS UE #1 (24) can be a laptop computer, anetbook, a tablet computer, or a device configured to communicate with aland mobile radio system (LMRS), a public land mobile radio, a privateland mobile radio system, a first responders network authority(FirstNet) nationwide network (FNN), an enhanced data rates for GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) Radio AccessNetwork (GERAN), a Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (UTRAN)and/or an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRAN) asdefined by the long term evolution (LTE), LTE-advance (LTE-A) andsubsequently defined in subsequent releases such as LTE-beyond (LTE-B)or a mobile satellite services (MSS) ancillary terrestrial component(ATC) network.

In one possible scenario shown in FIG. 1, public safety personnel (suchas a police officer) might take the public safety user equipment to aresidence, which could be located outside of the PS LTE network coveragearea. As shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with this scenario PS UE #2 (26)was taken to Sergeant John O'Malley's residence 26 h one evening at theend of his shift. As can be seen in FIG. 1, PS UE #2 (26) is locatedoutside of the PS LTE network coverage area (e.g., outside the coverageof PS LTE cell #0 (10) or cell #1 (20)). The next morning, afterpowering up PS UE #2 (26) at Sergeant O'Malley's residence 26 h, theuser equipment does not receive any MBMS transmission from a PS LTEnetwork because (as mentioned earlier) O'Malley's home is not within thePS LTE network. Over the course of the evening, unbeknownst to SergeantO'Malley, an unsolved criminal act occurred, resulting in the issuanceof a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) report. In addition, a missing person'salert was issued in an unrelated matter (e.g., an AMBER alert, CIMalert, Silver Alert or the like).

Sergeant O'Malley's neighbor is a fireman named Frank Fitzgerald, whohappens to be returning to his home 28 h from his overnight shift at thefirehouse at the same time that Sergeant O'Malley is leaving for workthe next morning. Fireman Fitzgerald also takes home his public safetyuser equipment PS UE #3 (28). While fireman Frank was at work and withinthe coverage area of the PS LTE network, PS UE #3 (28) received a MBMSmessage containing the BOLO report and the missing person alert issuedover the evening. The BOLO data and missing person alert message arestored in a peer cache buffer 28 c in PS UE #3 (28).

Both Sergeant O'Malley's and fireman Frank Fitzgerald's homes (26 h and28 h) have WiFi access (by way of access point 70) to the Internet 72.In accordance with example embodiments of the present invention, PS UE#3 (28) is able to transmit the MBMS messages stored in peer cachebuffer 28 c (e.g., containing the BOLO data and missing person alertdata) over the alternative network (i.e., the WiFi network) to PS UE #2(26) to end-point cache buffer 26 c. In another embodiment, both PS UE#2 (26) and PS UE #3 (28) are Bluetooth capable or Zigbee capabledevices (not shown) and are adapted to form a personal area network tocommunicate among devices in a device-to-device communicationtransmitting the MBMS data. In one another embodiment, both PS UE #2(26) and PS UE #3 (28) are WLAN mesh-enabled or peer-to-peer ad hocnetworking-enabled devices (not shown) and are adapted to communicatedirectly among devices in a device-to-device communication transmittingthe MBMS data.

In a second example scenario shown in FIG. 1, a public safety employeeis outside the reception range of a PS LTE network, but within range ofa worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network orCDMA2000 network 30 supporting evolution-data optimized orevolution-data only (EVDO). For example, PS UE #0 (14) and PS UE #4 (36)are accessible to a WiMax or EVDO access point 32. In such a scenario, aPS UE #4 (36) can obtain missed MBMS data from peer cache buffer 14 cfrom PS UE #0 (14) and store the data in its local cache, end-pointcache buffer 36 c. That is, PS UE #0 (14) received the initial MBMS datafrom MBMS ME 50, stored the data in its cache and subsequentlytransmitted that data over an alternative network (WiMAX or CDMA2000) toPS UE #4 (36) end-point cache buffer 36 c in accordance with exampleembodiments of the present invention.

In the third example scenario shown in FIG. 1 a public safety employeewith user equipment UE #5 (46) is outside the reception range of a PSLTE network, but within range of a vehicle area network (VANET) 40. Asshown in FIG. 1, according to this scenario, a police vehicle 42 a (orother public safety vehicle such as ambulance, fire truck or the like)is equipped with a PS LTE modem 42 b. PS LTE modem 42 b is also a typeof PS user equipment. Some non-limiting examples of a PS LTE modem arefor example a Motorola VML700 LTE vehicle modem or a UM1000 LTE USMmodem and the like. Alternatively, a PS LTE modem 42 b can be integratedin a laptop computer, a netbook, a tablet computer or a deviceconfigured to communicate with a land mobile radio system (LMRS), apublic land mobile radio, a private land mobile radio system, a firstresponders network authority (FirstNet) nationwide network (FNN), anenhanced data rates for Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), a Universal TerrestrialRadio Access Network (UTRAN) and/or an Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access (E-UTRAN) as defined by the long term evolution (LTE),LTE-advance (LTE-A) and subsequently defined in subsequent releases,such as LTE-beyond (LTE-B). The PS LTE modem 42 b also includes one ormore intermediate buffer memories 42 c adapted for storing one or moreMBMS messages received from MBMS ME 50. VANET 40 can be enabled by analternate wireless network such as a WiFi local area network (WLAN), apeer-to-peer ad hoc network, a mesh network, worldwide interoperabilityfor microwave access network, a mobile satellite services (MSS)ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) network, an evolution-dataoptimized network, evolution-data only network, a Zigbee personal areanetwork, a Bluetooth personal area network, a land mobile radio system,a first responders network authority nationwide network as defined by aFirst Responders Network Authority and a National Telecommunications andInformation Administration, a global system for wireless communicationnetwork, an enhanced data rates for global system for wirelesscommunication network, a universal terrestrial radio access network, oran evolved universal terrestrial radio access network as defined by along term evolution (LTE), a LTE-advanced and/or LTE beyondspecification including picocells, microcells and femtocells. In any ofthe above cases, the vehicle would be equipped with the appropriatenetworking equipment to support the alternative network, such as anaccess point or a base station or a wireless peer node. In one or moreembodiments, police vehicle 42 a, PS LTE modem 42 b, intermediate cachebuffer 42 c and the networking equipment for the alternative wirelessnetwork can collectively be described as a system on wheels (SOW) orcell on wheels (COW), a VANET access point (AP) or similar firstresponder/disaster response deployable mobile vehicle, platform orsystem. In some embodiments, the networking equipment for thealternative wireless network is incorporated in the entity with the LTEmodem 42 b such as an access point and an LTE modem bundled into onedevice. In yet another embodiment (not shown), the networking equipmentfor the alternative wireless network exists as a separate entity inpolice vehicle 42 a or SOW/COW vehicle, platform or system. In someembodiments (not shown), police vehicle 42 a could be an air-borneentity such as a helicopter, balloon, drone and the like or awater-borne entity such as a boat, ship, submarine or a robotic entitysuch as those used for exploratory purposes, rescue missions and thelike.

Also shown within range of VANET 40 and PS LTE modem 42 b is PS UE #5(46), which happens to be a public safety user equipment which does notsupport receiving MBMS data, such as, for example, a Motorola LEX 700.In this scenario, PS UE #5 (46) is adapted to receive MBMS data fromintermediate cache buffer 42 c by way of an alternative network (e.g.,VANET 40) and storing the data in end-point cache buffer 46 c inaccordance with example embodiments. In this embodiment, theintermediate cache buffer 42 c is populated by the MBMS transmissionsreceived over the LTE modem 42 b. In another example embodiment, bothintermediate cache buffer 42 c and PS UE #5 (46) communicate with eachother over a land mobile radio (LMR) network or another wirelessalternate network (not shown). In another embodiment (not shown), PS UE#5 (46) could be a public safety user equipment which does not supportreceiving MBMS data, such as, for example, a Motorola LEX 700. In such acase, even if the PS UE #5 (46) were within the reception range of MBMStransmissions over a PS LTE network, the PS UE #5 46 would be adapted toreceive MBMS data from intermediate cache 42 c by way of an alternativenetwork (e.g., VANET 40). Furthermore, in some embodiments of thepresent invention (not shown), if a PS UE #5 (46) that does supportreceiving MBMS data and is within the reception range of MBMStransmissions over a PS LTE network, receives the direct MBMStransmissions with poor quality such as due to poor radio channelconditions, then this PS UE #5 46 would again be adapted to receive MBMSdata from the intermediate cache buffer 42 c by way of an alternativenetwork (e.g., VANET 40).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a simplified block diagram of public safetyuser equipment (UE) 100 is shown in accordance with some exampleembodiments. PS UE 100 includes one or more processing devices, such asat least one digital signal processor (DSP) 110. DSP 110 can be amicrocontroller, microprocessor or field programmable gate array or thelike. Moreover, PS UE 100 includes one or more cache buffers such aslocal cache buffer 150. In accordance with example embodiments of thepresent invention, all the elements of FIG. 2 or only a subset of theelements may be present in a given embodiment. Further, the local cachebuffer 150 can be characterized or designated as an intermediate cachebuffer, a peer cache buffer or an end-point cache as described above inconjunction with FIG. 1 and described in more detail below.

Also included is at least one computer-readable memory 140 tangiblyembodying a program of instructions executable by PS UE 100. As will beappreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosuremay be embodied as an apparatus that incorporates some softwarecomponents. Accordingly, some embodiments of the present disclosure, orportions thereof, may combine one or more hardware components such asmicroprocessors, microcontrollers, or digital sequential logic, etc.,such as processor with one or more software components (e.g., programcode, firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) stored in atangible computer-readable memory device such as a tangible computermemory device, that in combination form a specifically configuredapparatus that performs the functions as described herein. Thesecombinations that form specially-programmed devices may be generallyreferred to herein “modules”. The software component portions of themodules may be written in any computer language and may be a portion ofa monolithic code base, or may be developed in more discrete codeportions such as is typical in object-oriented computer languages. Inaddition, the modules may be distributed across a plurality of computerplatforms, servers, terminals, mobile devices and the like. A givenmodule may even be implemented such that the described functions areperformed by separate processors and/or computing hardware platforms.

For example, computer-readable memory 140 stores a plurality of computerprograms such as a program for periodically transmitting a location andthe broadband network connectivity of PS UE 100 to one or more MBMS ME142-1. In one example embodiment, the MBMS ME can obtain PS UE 100location from one or more mobility management entities within the PSLTE. In another example embodiment, the broadband network connectivityinformation includes the type of broadband network (e.g., WiFi, WiMAX,CDMA2000, VANET, Bluetooth, Zigbee and the like) and PS UE 100 IPaddress and other relevant connectivity information such TCP/IP networkconfiguration values, dynamic host configuration protocol values anddomain name system setting and the like required for attachment to eachrespective broadband network.

Another program stored in computer-readable memory 140, that whenexecuted, creates a module for receiving one or more MBMS messages 142-2which in one example embodiment is based upon a MBMS identificationnumber (e.g., 0-255) with respect to one or more multimedia broadcastsingle frequency network areas accorded to the evolved Node B upon whichPS UE 100 is camped. In one example embodiment, PS UE 100 sends a cachereceived acknowledgment message 142-3 back to the MBMS ME. The cachereceived acknowledgement message can be used by the PS UE 100 toacknowledge the receipt and caching of MBMS data. In yet anotherembodiment, MBMS ME can transmit a cache designation message 142-4 backto PS UE 100, assigning that device's local cache as an intermediate orpeer cache buffer or an end-point cache buffer. Furthermore, in one ormore embodiments, the absence of the cache designation message from theMBMS ME will cause PS UE 100 to revert to a preconfigured defaultbehavior such as functioning as an end-point cache buffer. In yetanother example embodiment the PS UE 100 will revert to a preconfigureddefault behavior upon the elapse of a predetermined amount of time orupon entering or entering a predetermined geographic location. Cachedesignation may be based on a variety of factors such as userintervention, type of alert system, type of PS UE device (example, anLTE modem in a vehicle or SOW/COW vehicle, platform or system is alwaysdesignated as an intermediate cache), amount of battery life left in thePS UE device (example, a device which is low on battery life revertsback to being an end-point cache or may further revert back to notcaching any data at all), relative location of the device (example, adevice which is centrally located {either geographically or as a centralnode in a network, wherein the said node serves several other edge nodesin a network} is automatically designated as an intermediate or peercache) etc. In another embodiment, the cache designation can bepre-configured without the aid of the MBMS ME and based onaforementioned variety of factors.

Yet another program stored in computer-readable memory 140, that whenexecuted, creates a module 142-5 for extracting data contained in one ormore MBMS messages and storing it in the cache buffer 150 for the userto consume this data as needed. Furthermore, if the cache buffer 150 isdesignated to be a peer or intermediate cache, 142-5 is responsible fortransmitting that data to one or more proximately located user equipmentupon a request from that device 142-5. That is, as described above inone or more scenarios where the proximately located PS UE missed an MBMSmessage due to the device operating outside the reception range of thePS LTE network or due to the fact that the proximately located UE doesnot have MBMS capabilities. In addition to on-demand transmission of theMBMS data or data in cache 150, some intermediate caches may beconfigured to periodically either broadcast or multicast over apre-configured multicast address on the alternative network. In someembodiments, the configuration of caches to further propagate the MBMSmessages on alternative network is done on-the-fly by the MBMS ME aspart of the cache designation. In other embodiments, some caches may bepre-configured or manually configured to do so based on a variety offactors, such as location of the user equipment with the intermediatecache (a centrally located user equipment is more likely to reach alarger number of user equipments with such propagation), user equipmentdensity surround the said user equipment with the intermediate cache (alarger number of target user entities can be reached by the saidpropagation), battery life of the user equipment with the intermediatecache (a user equipment with a reliable power source may last longerdespite the battery drain due to propagation), type of public safetyalert message (a high emergency situation may require a higher degree ofsaid propagation to reach a larger audience in a timely fashion than alow priority situation) and so on. Furthermore, the periodicity of thesaid propagation on the alternative network and the group identifier forsuch messages are also configurable parameters, either of which can beconfigured on-the-fly by the MBMS ME or manually or set topre-configured values.

Another program stored in computer-readable memory 140 is a program,that when executed creates a module that will cause the device torequest data contained in one or more MBMS messages from a trustedintermediate or peer cache 142-6. This module assures that PS UE 100obtains the MBMS in a scenario where the device is outside the receptionrange of the PS LTE network but connected to an alternative network.

Yet another program stored in computer-readable memory 140, that whenexecuted creates a cache updating module adapted for periodicallyupdating the MBMS data or deleting some or all of the data upon therequest of the MBMS ME 142-7. In one example embodiment, a cacheconsistency algorithm 142-8 is periodically run on the data stored inthe local cache based upon time-to-live (TTL) information accorded tothat data. As such, in this embodiment, PS UE 100 will request at apredetermined time TTL an updated MBMS or data contained in the MBMSfrom the MBMS ME or trusted cache by way of a unicast transmission. Itshould be noted that although FIG. 2 discloses eight modules for use inexample embodiments, some embodiments may include more or fewer modules.

Yet another module will show a message on a display 180 indicating, forexample, that the data related to a missing person or a BOLO message isa certain number of hours, minutes or seconds old 142-9. In response toseeing this message, a user can input a predetermined key on a keyboard160, or input any other command by way of human interface 162 to requestan update of the missing person or BOLO alert from MBMS ME or a trustedcache. In alternate embodiments of a user equipment, such as an LTEmodem, the peripherals shown here display 180, keyboard 160 or humaninterface 162 may be externally connected to the device.

PS UE 100 also includes, for example, at least one transceiver module120 adapted for transmission and reception of wireless signals by way ofone or more internal or external antennas, such as antenna 130. In onenon-limiting example embodiment, transceiver module 120 transmits andreceives signals over a long term evolution (LTE) network, orLTE-advanced (LTE-A) network, or LTE-Beyond (LTE-B) network, or on aFirstNet network on a first radio frequency module (RFIC) 122 by way ofantenna 132. In another non-limiting example embodiment, transceivermodule 120 transmits and receives signals over a Global System forMobile Communication (GSM) network, or a GSM Evolution (EDGE) RadioAccess Network (GERAN), or a CDMA2000 network, or a land mobile radiosystem (LMRS) network, or other public land mobile radio or private landmobile radio system on a second RFIC 124 over antenna 134. In anothernon-limiting example embodiment, a transceiver module 120 transmits andreceives signals over a WiFi local area network (WILAN), or a vehiclearea network (VANET), or a WiMAX network on a third RFIC 126 overantenna 136. In yet another non-limiting example embodiment, atransceiver module 120 is adapted to transmit and receive wirelesssignals over a Bluetooth™ personal area network or a Zigbee personalarea network on a fourth RFIC 128N over antenna 138N. In anothernon-limiting example embodiment, a transceiver module 120 includes themeans such as an additional RFIC adapted to communicate with the GlobalPositioning System (GPS) (not shown) for location determination. Itshould be noted that although FIG. 2 discloses a transceiver module 120including four RFIC some example embodiments may optionally contain moreor less RFICs as well as corresponding antennas. In some exampleembodiments no external antennas are employed by one or more RFICs asknown by those skilled in the art.

PS UE 100 can be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, awireless modem, a wireless communication device, a laptop computer, anLTE modem, a USB modem, a netbook, a tablet computer, or a deviceconfigured to communicate with a land mobile radio system (LMRS), publicland mobile radio or private land mobile radio system, a firstresponders network authority (FirstNet) nationwide network (FNN), anenhanced data rates for Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN), a Universal TerrestrialRadio Access Networks (UTRAN) and/or an Evolved Universal TerrestrialRadio Access (E-UTRAN) as defined by the long term evolution (LTE),LTE-advance (LTE-A) and as will be subsequently defined in futurereleases such as LTE-beyond (LTE-B).

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a simplified block diagram of publicsafety multimedia broadcast multicast services management entity (PSMBMS ME) 200 is shown in accordance with some example embodiments. PSMBMS ME 200 includes one or more processing devices, such as at leastone digital signal processor (DSP) 210. DSP 210 can be amicrocontroller, microprocessor or field programmable gate array or thelike.

Also included is a first computer-readable memory 220 for storing aplurality of public safety alert messages 221. In one exampleembodiment, the possible public safety alert messages 221 includespublic safety broadcast alerts issued by a public safety networkoperator such as: an America's missing broadcasting emergency response(AMBER) alert 221-1, a child abduction emergency (CAE) alert 221-2, achild is missing (ACIM) alert 221-3, and/or a Silver Alert (e.g., publicnotification of missing seniors, typically with Alzheimer's Disease,dementia, or other mental disabilities) 221-4. Also stored incomputer-readable memory 220 are data pertaining to public safetyapplications which provide real-time or near real-time data pertainingto various law enforcement search and investigatory activities. Forexample, a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) broadcast message 220-1 containingup-to-the-minute information for all public safety personnel on variouspersons of interest or criminals at large. Also included in firstcomputer memory is operational data 220-2 which could include blueprintsor satellite maps particular to a geographic area providing the sameoperational view to all public safety personnel whether they are onopposite sides of a building, or on the other side of town, or inanother county, or across state lines. Also stored in the firstcomputer-readable memory 220 is data from various public safety userequipment pertaining to their location and broadband connectivitycollected in accordance with example embodiments of the presentinvention. This information may include the location information such asGPS coordinates, cell identity (ID), or neighbor reports which are alist of visible neighboring networks generated by the user equipment forexample, based on scanning. The connectivity information includes thevarious networks that the user equipment is currently connected to ormay be able to access (as indicated by the neighbor reports). In anembodiment not shown in FIG. 3, the MBMS ME need not store a local copyof one or more such information (i.e., public safety alert messages,operational data, location and connectivity information), instead, ithas easy access to such information that may be stored remotely.

A second computer-readable memory 222 could store a local copy ofplurality of private databases, such as parking lot surveillance videodata 222-1, apartment complex or housing project surveillance video data222-2, records pertaining to vehicle impounds 222-3, various bank ATMvideo data 222-4, as well as other reserved private data repositories222-5 and 222-6. Databases as defined here could incorporate structureddata including text, audio, video, images etc. as well as repositoriesof unstructured data including text, audio, video, images etc. In anembodiment not shown in FIG. 3, the MBMS ME need not store a local copyof one or more private databases, instead, it has easy access to suchdatabases by way of a dedicated secured wired or wireless connection tothe host repositories as such data may be stored remotely.

A third computer-readable memory 224 could store a local copy of aplurality of public databases, such as police arrest records 224-1,records pertaining to parking motor vehicle summonses issued 224-2,vehicle tow records 224-3, traffic and street surveillance video, aswell as predator/aerial surveillance video 224-4, 911/211/311 phone callrecords 224-5, and records pertaining to tollbooth and EZPASS records224-6. Databases as defined here could incorporate structured dataincluding text, audio, video, images etc. as well as repositories ofunstructured data including text, audio, video, images etc. In anembodiment not shown in FIG. 3, the MBMS ME need not store a local copyof one or more private databases, instead, it has easy access to suchdatabases by way of a dedicated secured wired or wireless connection tothe host repositories as such data may be stored remotely.

A fourth computer-readable memory 230 contains one or more computerprograms tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by PSME 200. For example, the fourth computer-readable memory 230 stores aplurality of computer programs, that when executed create modules, suchas a module for creating at least one public safety alert or operationaldata upon a request from a public safety operator 230-1, a module forpackaging the public safety alert or operational data in a multimediabroadcast or multicast message 230-2, a module for receivingidentification information of a plurality of public safety userequipment in a first wireless communication network 230-3, a module forbroadcasting or multicasting a multimedia broadcast or multicast messageto the plurality of public safety user equipment over the first wirelesscommunication network 230-4, and a module for periodically receivingupdated multimedia data such as text, video, images, graphics, locationcoordinates, audio clips etc. pertaining to the public safety alert, oroperational data, and mining that data to determine if the multimediabroadcast or multicast message requires updating 230-5. In one exampleembodiment the data mining operation includes a video analysis functionand a correlation function that utilize various statistical methods andvideo recognition algorithms known in the art. In one non-limitingillustrative example, a BOLO alert for a known vehicle may be updatedwith location information if the relevant vehicle is seen on asurveillance video of a private parking lot, as identified by itslicense plate and type and color of vehicle. In this example, thecorrelation between the existing Public Safety alert message & thesurveillance video could be accomplished using known video analyticstechniques. In one example embodiment, the correlation between anexisting public safety alert messages & various databases & repositoriescould be done by a correlation engine functionality within the datamining module that is centralized as shown in 230-5. In an alternateexample embodiment, this correlation engine functionality could bedistributed. In particular, each subset of the correlation engine wouldbe responsible for correlating the announcement with a smaller subset ofdatabases & repositories. In yet another embodiment, the data mining andcorrelation function 230-5 may be remotely located.

Other possible programs stored in a fourth computer-readable memory 230,that when executed for a module, are: a program for receiving userequipment location data and broadband connectivity data over the firstwireless network 230-6, a program for transmitting to the user equipmenta local cache identifier designating each user equipment an intermediatecache destination, a peer cache designation or an end point cachedesignation 230-7, wherein an intermediate cache designation or peercache designation requires that the user equipment respond to a publicsafety alert or operation data request from a user equipment over analternative network and transmit relevant data stored its respectiveintermediate cache or peer cache, whereas an end-point cache is used forcontent-consumption only at the user equipment without any provisionsfor transmitting the data stored in the end-point cache. The peer cacheis also available for local content consumption at the user equipmentwith provisions for transmitting the data stored in the peer cache.Cache designation may be based on a variety of factors such as userintervention, type of alert system, type of PS UE device (example, anLTE modem in a vehicle is always designated as an intermediate cache),amount of battery life left in the PS UE device (example, a device whichis low on battery life reverts back to being an end-point cache),relative location of the device (example, a device which is centrallylocated is automatically designated as an intermediate or peer cache)etc. Furthermore, the cache designation module 230-7 may also selectcertain intermediate caches to further propagate the MBMS messages onalternative networks periodically. In some embodiments, the cachedesignation module 230-7 will additionally provide at least one of thecache propagation periodicity and the group identifier for propagationmessages on the alternative networks. Another possible programs storedin 230, that when executed for a module, is a program for creating, orcompiling, a trusted cache list containing a list of all intermediatecache designated user equipment and all peer cache designated PS userequipment) and periodically broadcasting the trusted cache list to theplurality of public safety user equipment. Yet another program stored inthe fourth computer-readable memory 230 is a program for determining aclosest trusted peer cache or a trusted intermediate cache among thepublic safety user equipment on an alternative broadband network 230-9.The determination of the closest trusted peer or intermediate caches maybe based on many factors such as the location and connectivityinformation 220-3 of the user equipments with the peer cache &intermediate cache as well as the target user equipment (i.e., the userequipment for which the information regarding the closest intermediateor peer cache is being sought.). In an embodiment not shown in FIG. 3,one or more functionality in 230 may be distributed over multiple nodes.It should be noted that one or more example embodiments described hereinmay include one or more of the modules shown in fourth computer-readablememory 230.

PS MBMS ME 200 also includes a network interface 240 adapted forcommunicating with an evolved packet system (EPS) in a long termevolution network. In one example embodiment, PS MBMS ME 200 is coupledto a broadcast/multicast service center (BM-SC) adapted to provide aninterface with an external content provider (such as direct connectionsto private and public data bases).

In another embodiment, the PS MBMS ME 200 functionality resides in theBM-SC. In yet another example embodiment of the present invention, thePS MBMS ME is located within the core network (CN).

Referring now to FIG. 5, a logical flow diagram 300 is shown whichillustrates and describes a method of propagating a multimedia broadcastmulticast services message among public safety user equipment inaccordance with example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, a public safetyuser equipment establishes a first wireless communication channels overa primary network to at least one multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity and establishes one or more alternativewireless communication channels over one or more alternative networks(310). In one example embodiment, the public safety user equipmentestablishes one or more alternative wireless communication channels withone or more access points over one or more alternative networks. In oneexample embodiment the access point is proximately located to one ormore public safety user equipment not connected to the first wirelesscommunication channel. In another example embodiment, the public safetyuser equipment establishes a peer-to-peer connection with aproximately-located public safety user equipment over a peer-to-peeralternative ad hoc network or personal area network. In one exampleembodiment the proximately-located public safety user equipment is notconnected to the first wireless communication channel. In some examples,the functionality of an access point could be collocated with the saiduser equipment which has the first wireless connection to one multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity. Subsequently, exampleembodiments of the method and computer programs described herein providethat the public safety user equipment receive at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service message over the first wirelesscommunication channel (320). Then, the PS UE extracts data contained inthe multimedia multicast or broadcast service message and stores thedata in a local cache (330). Next, the PS UE receives a cache requestfrom the one or more user equipment over the one or more alternativewireless communication channels (340), and then transmits the storeddata to the one or more user equipment (350).

Some example embodiments also provide that the PS UE transmits a cachereceived acknowledgment message to the multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity. Another example embodiment also provides thatthe PS UE: periodically transmit a location data and broadband networkconnectivity data to the at least one multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity, receive a cache designation message assigningthe local cache as an intermediate cache or a peer cache, or end pointcache, and periodically transmit a cache updated message to the at leastone multimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity,indicating the identity of each user equipment receiving the data in thelocal cache and the location data and broadband network connectivitydata pertaining to each user equipment.

Yet another example embodiment provides that the PS LIE periodicallyreceive one or more updated multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemessage over the first wireless communication channel, or in response toa user input requesting the updated multimedia multicast or broadcastservice message.

Some example embodiments also provide that the PS UE receiveinstructions to delete some or all of the data in the local cache from amultimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity. Yet anotherexample embodiment of the present invention provides that the PS UEperiodically run a cache consistency check on the local cache todetermine the time-to-live of the data stored in the local cache anddisplay the age of the data stored in the local cache on a displayscreen and in response to determining a predetermined time-to-liverequesting an updated multimedia multicast or broadcast service message.

In one embodiment, a PS UE may request the system to identify a localcache from which it may receive current MBMS data. The UE may transmit acache request message to an entity, such as the MBMS management entity.The cache location request message may contain the location coordinatesfrom a GPS device in the UE, or the location may be determined fromother parameters associated with the UE, such as a cell/sectoridentifier, or the location may be determined by triangulation by cellcites such as the eNode Bs of an LTE system, or the relative locationmay be determined based on neighbor reports of the user equipment, whichin turn, could be populated by scanning, for example. The MBMSmanagement entity may receive the request from the UE, and, usingwhatever form of location information is available, may query itsdatabases to identify any cache entities that may be in the vicinity ofthe requesting UE. The management entity may then respond bytransmitting a cache identification message addressed to the requestingUE. The cache identification message may include a cache identifier ofthe closest local cache for the UE. The cache identification message mayalso include connection details regarding the alternative networks bywhich the local cache entity is reachable. This may include a WiFi SSIDand security parameters, such as a security protocol type and networkpassword, or other such parameters as appropriate for the alternativenetwork type.

Yet another example embodiment provides that the primary network is tobe selected from the group consisting of: a land mobile radio system, afirst responders network authority nationwide network, a global systemfor wireless communication network, an enhanced data rates for globalsystem for wireless communication network, a universal terrestrial radioaccess network and an evolved universal terrestrial radio access networkas defined by a long term evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced and/or LTEbeyond specification or a mobile satellite services (MSS) ancillaryterrestrial component (ATC) network.

In addition, some example embodiments also provide that the one or morealternative networks are selected from the group consisting of a WiFilocal area network, a peer-to-peer ad hoc network, a worldwideinteroperability for microwave access network, an evolution-dataoptimized network, evolution-data, only network, a Zigbee personal areanetwork, a Bluetooth personal area network, a land mobile radio system,a first responders network authority nationwide network, a global systemfor wireless communication network, an enhanced data rates for globalsystem for wireless communication network, a universal terrestrial radioaccess network and an evolved universal terrestrial radio access networkas defined by a long term evolution (LTE), LTE-advanced and/or LTEbeyond specification or a mobile satellite services (MSS) ancillaryterrestrial component (ATC) network,

Referring now to FIG. 6, a logical flow diagram 500 is shown thatillustrates and describes a public safety multimedia broadcast multicastservices entity (PS MBMS ME) in accordance with example embodiments. Asshown in FIG. 6, PS MBMS ME creates at least one public safety alert oroperational data upon a request from a public safety operator (510).Then, PS MBMS ME packages the public safety alert or operational data ina multimedia broadcast or multicast message (520). Next, PS MBMS MEreceives identification information such as a group identification or amulticast or broadcast address for a plurality of public safety userequipment in a first wireless communication network (530). Thereafter,PS MBMS ME broadcasts or multicasts a multimedia broadcast or multicastmessage to the plurality of public safety user equipment over the firstwireless communication network (540) and periodically receives updatedmultimedia data pertaining to the public safety alert or operationaldata and mines that data to determine if the multimedia broadcast ormulticast message requires updating (550).

In some example embodiments, PS MBMS ME receives user equipment locationdata and broadband connectivity data over the first wireless network,transmits to the user equipment a local cache identifier designatingeach user equipment an intermediate cache destination, a peer cachedesignation or an end point cache designation, compiles or creates atrusted cache list containing a list of all intermediate cachedesignated user equipment and all peer cache designation user equipmentand periodically either broadcasts or multicasts or unicasts the trustedcache list to the plurality of public safety user equipment, wherein anintermediate cache designation or peer cache designation requires thatthe user equipment respond to a public safety alert or operation datarequest from a user equipment over an alternative network and transmitrelevant data stored in its respective intermediate cache or peer cache.In one embodiment, the PS MBMS ME may also transmit the trusted cachelist on-demand at receiving a request from a user equipment.

In some example embodiments, a public safety multimedia broadcastmulticast services management entity determines the closest trusted peercache, or a trusted intermediate cache among the user equipment on analternative broadband network.

In yet another example embodiment, the public safety alert comprisesmultimedia data selected from a group consisting of: (i) a childabduction emergency alert, (ii) a child is missing alert message, (iii)an America's missing broadcasting emergency response message and (iv) asilver alert message.

In yet another example embodiment, the operational data comprisesmultimedia data pertaining to a be-on-the-lookout message.

In yet another example embodiment, the updated multimedia datapertaining to the public safety alert or one or more operational dataare received from one or more public or private databases comprisingimage or textual data or other multimedia data selected from the groupconsisting of: (i) a plurality of public databases, including one ormore police arrest records, one or more parking summonses, one or morevehicle tow records, one or more highway and street surveillance videos,one or more 911 and 311 call transcripts, and one or more toll booth andEZPass transaction records and (ii) a plurality of private databases,including one or more parking lot surveillance videos, one or moreapartment complex surveillance records, one or more vehicle tow records,one or more automatic teller surveillance videos, a first privaterecords repository, and a second private records repository.

In some example embodiments, an updated multimedia data alert message isgenerated, and further comprises analyzing and correlating one or morevideos in the one or more public or private databases with image data inthe multimedia data alert message and analyzing and correlating one ormore textual documents in the one or more public or private databaseswith text data in the multimedia data alert message. As an example, anupdated arrest record in county A with arrest of person-of-interest,John Doe can result in cancellation of a BOLO alert for John Doe incounty B.

In yet another example embodiment, the alternative network is a WiFilocal area network, a peer-to-peer ad hoc network, a mesh network,worldwide interoperability for microwave access network, anevolution-data optimized network, evolution-data only network, a Zigbeepersonal area network, a. Bluetooth personal area network, a land mobileradio system, a first responders network authority nationwide network asdefined by a First Responders Network Authority and a NationalTelecommunications and Information Administration, a global system forwireless communication network, an enhanced data rates for global systemfor wireless communication network, a universal terrestrial radio accessnetwork, or an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network asdefined by a long term evolution (LTE), a LTE-advanced and/or LTE beyondspecification or a mobile satellite services (MSS) ancillary terrestrialcomponent (ATC) network.

In one embodiment, the method comprises: establishing a first wirelesscommunication channel over a primary network to at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity and establishing one ormore alternative wireless communication channels over one or morealternative networks; receiving at least one multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message over the first wireless communication channel;extracting data contained in the multimedia multicast or broadcastservice message and storing the data in a local cache; receiving a cacherequest from one or more user equipment over the one or more alternativewireless communication channels; and transmitting the stored data to theone or more user equipment. The method may further comprise:transmitting a cache received acknowledgment message to the multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity. In furtherembodiments, the method may include periodically transmitting a locationdata and a broadband network connectivity data to the at least onemultimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity, andreceiving a cache designation message assigning the local cache as anintermediate cache or a peer cache, or end point cache; and periodicallytransmitting a cache updated message to the at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity indicating an identityof each user equipment receiving the data in the local cache and thelocation data and broadband network connectivity data pertaining to eachuser equipment. Still further embodiments may further comprise:receiving one or more updated multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemessage over the first wireless communication channel, wherein theupdated multimedia multicast or broadcast service messages are receivedperiodically and/or in response to a user input requesting the updatedmultimedia multicast or broadcast service message. The method mayfurther comprise: receiving instructions to delete some or all of thedata in the local cache from a multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemanagement entity, and/or periodically running a cache consistency checkon the local cache to determine a time-to-live of the data stored in thelocal cache; and displaying the age of the data stored in the localcache on a display screen; and in response to determining apredetermined time-to-live requesting an updated multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message.

The primary network is selected from the group consisting of a landmobile radio system, a first responders network authority nationwidenetwork, a global system for wireless communication network, an enhanceddata rates for global system for wireless communication network, auniversal terrestrial radio access network and an evolved universalterrestrial radio access network as defined by a long term evolution(LTE), a LTE-advanced and/or LTE beyond specification, and the one ormore alternative networks are from the group consisting of a wife localarea network, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access network,an evolution-data optimized network, evolution-data only network, aZigbee personal area network, a Bluetooth personal area network, a landmobile radio system, a first responders network authority nationwidenetwork, a global system for wireless communication network, an enhanceddata rates for global system for wireless communication network, auniversal terrestrial radio access network and an evolved universalterrestrial radio access network as defined by a long term evolution(LTE), a LTE-advanced and/or LTE-beyond specification or a mobilesatellite services (MSS) ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) network.

Some embodiments in the form of an apparatus may comprise: at least oneprocessor; and at least one tangible memory device having stored thereoncomputer instructions that when executed, cause the apparatus to:establish a first wireless communication channel over a primary networkto at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service managemententity and establish one or more alternative wireless communicationchannels with one or more access points over one or more alternativenetworks or as a peer in a peer-to-peer alternative ad hoc network;receive at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service messageover the first wireless communication channel; extract data contained inthe multimedia multicast or broadcast service message and storing thedata in a local cache; receive a cache request from the one or more userequipment one or more alternative wireless communication channels; andtransmit the stored data to the one or more user equipment. Theprocessor may also cause the apparatus to further transmit a cachereceived acknowledgment message to the multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity. In further embodiments, the processor mayperiodically transmit a location data and a broadband networkconnectivity data to the at least one multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity; receive a cache designation message assigningthe local cache as an intermediate cache or a peer cache, or end pointcache; and periodically transmit a cache updated message to the at leastone multimedia multicast or broadcast service management entityindicating an identity of each user equipment receiving the data in thelocal cache and the location data and broadband network connectivitydata pertaining to each user equipment. In addition, the processor mayreceive one or more updated multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemessage over the first wireless communication channel, and may alsoreceive instructions to delete some or all of the data in the localcache from a multimedia multicast or broadcast service managemententity. Further embodiments include periodically running a cacheconsistency check on the local cache to determine a time-to-live of thedata stored in the local cache; and display the age of the data storedin the local cache on a display screen; and in response to determining apredetermined time-to-live, request an updated multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message.

Still further embodiments include a program storage device readable by amachine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by themachine for causing performance of operations, said operationscomprising: establishing a first wireless communication channel over aprimary network to at least one multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity and establishing one or more alternativewireless communication channels with alternative networks. In oneexample embodiment, the public safety user equipment establishes one ormore alternative wireless communication channels with one or more accesspoints over one or more alternative networks. In one example embodimentthe access point is proximately located to one or more public safetyuser equipment not connected to the first wireless communicationchannel. In another alternative embodiment, the public safety userequipment establishes a peer-to-peer alternative ad hoc network or apersonal area network; receiving at least one multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message over the first wireless communication channel;extracting data contained in the multimedia multicast or broadcastservice message and storing the data in a local cache; receiving a cacherequest from the one or more user equipment over one or more alternativewireless communication channels; and transmitting the stored data to theone or more user equipment. Further aspects of the instruction mayinclude transmitting a cache received acknowledgment message to themultimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity. A furtheraspect may include periodically transmitting a location data and abroadband network connectivity data to the at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity; receiving a cachedesignation message assigning the local cache as an intermediate cacheor a peer cache, or end point cache; and periodically transmitting acache updated message to the at least one multimedia multicast orbroadcast service management entity indicating an identity of each userequipment receiving the data in the local cache and the location dataand broadband network connectivity data pertaining to each userequipment. Further stored instructions may include receiving one or moreupdated multimedia multicast or broadcast service message over the firstwireless communication channel and/or receiving instructions to deletesome or all of the data in the local cache from a multimedia multicastor broadcast service management entity, and/or periodically running acache consistency check on the local cache to determine a time-to-liveof the data stored in the local cache, and displaying the age of thedata stored in the local cache on a display screen, and in response todetermining a predetermined time-to-live requesting an updatedmultimedia multicast or broadcast service message.

An additional embodiment is a method comprising: creating at least onepublic safety alert or operational data upon a request from a publicsafety operator; packaging the public safety alert or operational datain a multimedia broadcast or multicast message; receiving identificationinformation of a plurality of public safety user equipment in a firstwireless communication network; broadcasting or multicasting amultimedia broadcast or multicast message to the plurality of publicsafety user equipment over the first wireless communication network; andperiodically receiving updated multimedia data pertaining to the publicsafety alert or operational data and mining that data to determine ifthe multimedia broadcast or multicast message requires updating. Themethod may also comprise: receiving user equipment location data andbroadband connectivity data at over the first wireless network;transmitting to the user equipment a local cache identifier designatingeach user equipment an intermediate cache destination, a peer cachedesignation or an end point cache designation; compiling a trusted cachelist containing a list of all intermediate cache designated userequipment and all peer cache designation user equipment and periodicallybroadcasting the trusted cache list to the plurality of public safetyuser equipment, wherein an intermediate cache designation or peer cachedesignation requires that the user equipment respond to a public safetyalert or operation data request from a user equipment over analternative network and transmit relevant data stored its respectiveintermediate cache or peer cache. A public safety multimedia broadcastmulticast services management entity may also determine a closesttrusted peer cache or a trusted intermediate cache among the userequipment on an alternative broadband network.

In further embodiments, an updated multimedia data alert message may begenerated by analyzing and correlating one or more videos in the one ormore public or private databases with image data in the multimedia dataalert message; and analyzing and correlating one or more textualdocuments in the one or more public or private databases with text datain the multimedia data alert message. The update to the alert messagecould either be addition of data (such as an image of the suspect'scompanion as seen in the surveillance video of a parking lot), deletionof data (such as removal of the vehicle information from the alert ifthe vehicle is located, say, abandoned in a parking lot) or modificationof data (such as an image of the suspect & the companion seen driving anew car through a toll plaza) to the alert message. The data mining andthe correlation function may reside in the PS MBMS ME in someembodiments or outside of the PS MBMS ME with the PS MBMS ME havingaccess to the analyses and correlation results in other embodiments.

A further embodiment in the form of an apparatus comprises: at least oneprocessor; and at least one tangible memory device having stored thereoncomputer instructions that when executed, cause the apparatus to: createat least one public safety alert or operational data upon a request froma public safety operator; package the public safety alert or operationaldata in a multimedia broadcast or multicast message; receiveidentification information of a plurality of public safety userequipment in a first wireless communication network; broadcast ormulticast a multimedia broadcast or multicast message to the pluralityof public safety user equipment over the first wireless communicationnetwork; and periodically receive updated multimedia data pertaining tothe public safety alert or operational data and mine that data todetermine if the multimedia broadcast or multicast message requiresupdating. The apparatus may also receive user equipment location dataand broadband connectivity data over the first wireless network;transmit to the user equipment a local cache identifier designating eachuser equipment an intermediate cache destination, a peer cachedesignation or an end point cache designation; compile a trusted cachelist containing a list of all intermediate cache designated userequipment and all peer cache designation user equipment and periodicallybroadcast the trusted cache list to the plurality of public safety userequipment, wherein an intermediate cache designation or peer cachedesignation requires that the user equipment respond to a public safetyalert or operation data request from a user equipment over analternative network and transmit relevant data stored its respectiveintermediate cache or peer cache. The apparatus determine a closesttrusted peer cache or a trusted intermediate cache among the userequipment on an alternative broadband network.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including both software and firmware) that control the oneor more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform amethod as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: establishing a firstwireless communication channel over a primary network to at least onemultimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity andestablishing one or more alternative wireless communication channelsover one or more alternative networks; receiving at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service message over the first wirelesscommunication channel; extracting data contained in the multimediamulticast or broadcast service message and storing the data in a localcache; receiving a cache request from one or more user equipment overthe one or more alternative wireless communication channels;transmitting the stored data to the one or more user equipment; andwherein the method further comprises at least one from the groupconsisting of: periodically transmitting a location data and a networkconnectivity data to the at one multimedia multicast or broadcastservice management entity; receiving a cache designation messageassigning the local cache as an intermediate cache or a peer cache, orend point cache; and periodically transmitting a cache updated messageto the at least one multimedia multicast or broadcast service managemententity indicating an identity of each user equipment receiving the datain the local cache and the location data and broadband networkconnectivity data pertaining to each user equipment.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: transmitting a cache receivedacknowledgment message to the multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemanagement entity.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing one ormore alternative wireless communication channels over one or morealternative networks comprises establishing one or more alternativewireless communication channels with one or more access points over oneor more alternative networks or establishing a peer-to-peer connectionwith a proximately located public safety user equipment over apeer-to-peer alternative ad hoc network or personal area network.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving one or more updatedmultimedia multicast or broadcast service messages over the firstwireless communication channel, wherein the updated multimedia multicastor broadcast service messages are received periodically and/or inresponse to a user input requesting the updated multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving instructions to delete some or all of the data in the localcache from a multimedia multicast or broadcast service managemententity.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodicallyrunning a cache consistency check on the local cache to determine atime-to-live of the data stored in the local cache; and displaying theage of the data stored in the local cache on a display screen; and inresponse to determining a predetermined time-to-live requesting anupdated multimedia multicast or broadcast service message.
 7. Anapparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one tangiblememory device having stored thereon computer instructions that whenexecuted, cause the apparatus to: establish a first wirelesscommunication channel over a primary network to at least one multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity and establish one ormore alternative wireless communication channels over one or morealternative networks; receive at least one multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message over the first wireless communication channel;extract data contained in the multimedia multicast or broadcast servicemessage and storing the data in a local cache; receive a cache requestfrom the one or more user equipment over one or more alternativewireless communication channels; transmit the stored data to the one ormore user equipment; and wherein the at least one processor; and atleast one tangible memory storing computer instructions that whenexecuted, cause the apparatus to further perform at least one functionselected from the group consisting of: periodically transmit a locationdata and a broadband network connectivity data to the at least onemultimedia multicast or broadcast service management entity; receive acache designation message assigning the local cache as an intermediatecache or a peer cache, or end point cache; and periodically transmit acache updated message to the at least one multimedia multicast orbroadcast service management entity indicating an identity of each userequipment receiving the data in the local cache and the location dataand broadband network connectivity data pertaining to each userequipment.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least oneprocessor; and at least one tangible memory storing computerinstructions that when executed, cause the apparatus to further:transmit a cache received acknowledgment message to the multimediamulticast or broadcast service management entity.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the at least one processor; and at least one tangiblememory storing computer instructions that when executed, cause theapparatus to further: receive one or more updated multimedia multicastor broadcast service messages over the first wireless communicationchannel.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least oneprocessor; and at least one tangible memory storing computerinstructions that when executed, cause the apparatus to further: deletesome or all of the data in the local cache from a multimedia multicastor broadcast service management entity based on received instructions.11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor; and atleast one tangible memory storing computer instructions that whenexecuted, cause the apparatus to further: periodically run a cacheconsistency check on the local cache to determine a time-to-live of thedata stored in the local cache; and display the age of the data storedin the local cache on a display screen; and in response to determining apredetermined time-to-live, request an updated multimedia multicast orbroadcast service message.